Shah and others were accused of running a broad telemarketing scheme that defrauded hundreds of people across the US, many of them over 55 years old. He signed a plea deal with federal prosecutors in New York that called for up to 14 years in prison. The plea agreement also required Shah to pay up to $9.5 million in restitution to the victims. He also agreed to a $6.5 million forfeiture. “At this time, Ms. Shah would like to withdraw her plea of not guilty,” defense attorney Priya Chaudhry said at the start of Monday’s change of plea hearing. Shah told the judge she would not appeal if she is sentenced to 168 months or less. Her sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 28. Shah initially pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering by telemarketing and was scheduled to go on trial starting next week. On Monday, she pleaded guilty to the first charge, which carries up to 30 years in prison, as part of the deal with prosecutors. “From 2012 through March 2021 in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere I conspired with others to commit wire fraud,” Shah told Judge Sidney Stein on Monday as she read from a prepared statement. “I knew this was wrong. I knew a lot of people were hurt and I’m very sorry.” Jen Shah from “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.” Chad Kirkland/Bravo Under questioning by the judge, Shah said her plan made misleading statements about the value of the services sold. They were of no value, he said. “Did you know what you were doing was wrong and illegal?” Stein asked. “Yes, your honor,” replied the Shah. Federal prosecutors said Shah and her assistant Stuart Smith, who pleaded guilty, were among those “orchestrating the larger scheme” and providing “leads that maintained the subpar sales.” Smith, who also initially pleaded not guilty, changed his plea last November. According to prosecutors, Shah deliberately did not put her name on the financial records, but instead used relatives. used encrypted applications to communicate with co-conspirators; and instructed a co-conspirator to lie in a deposition taken by the Federal Trade Commission to conceal her role in the scheme. Federal prosecutors said in court Monday that the victims were prepared to testify at a trial about the false statements made at Shah’s direction. Like many of its counterpart franchises, “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” is known for depicting the lavish lifestyles of its cast members. “Shah and Smith presented their lavish lifestyles to the public as a symbol of their ‘success’. In fact, they allegedly built their lavish lifestyles at the expense of vulnerable, often elderly, working-class people,” Homeland Security Special Investigations Representative Peter Fitzhugh said after Shah and Smith were arrested. Shah, 48, has appeared in both seasons of the Bravo TV show. The second season, which featured her fighting fraud charges, ended in March. ABC News’ Arielle Schwartz and Eileen Murphy contributed to this report.
